Ski sled



N. SAARI SKI SLED July 30, 1940'.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J59 Us]? 2 01 Mb Jaari J7 IIJJQ 175012796 Filed Oct. 4'. 1939 N. SAARI July 30, 1940.

SKI SLED Filed Oct. 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 D. U v 3 2%. 9 9 z 1 2 F .{M bf e 5 N W 2 J 4/2 Z Patented July 30, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,2cas30 PATENT OFFICE SKI SLED Nels Saari, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application October 4,

11 Claims.

My. present invention provides a ski sled in which standard skis are used as the runners. The skis are detachably connected in such a manner that they will run in parallel but can be simultaneousl-y oscillated to steer the sled. The operator standing on the skis manipulates the connecting and steering mechanism to guide the sled.

' steering and connecting devices may be readily removed from the skis and the skis used in the ordinary way. a

Generally stated, the invention consists of the novel 7 devices, combination of devices and ar- "rangement of parts hereinafter described and defined in the claims. In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views. 1

Referring to the drawings:

Fig.1 is a view in perspective looking at the complete ski sled viewed from the front thereof, some parts being broken away and some parts being sectioned;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the sled;

. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective showing certain important elements of the steering and connecting mechanism, some. parts being broken away and some parts being shown in section;

Fig. 4. is a detail in section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing an intermediate part of one of .the skis and portions of a post detachably but rigidly secured to and rising fromthe ski;

Fig. v6 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5, some parts being sectioned; and

Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective showing one of the coupling pins used at various different places in the coupling connections.

The skis l0, which may be of the standard construction, are provided with the customary raised or intermediate portions ll, having the customary transverse slots l2 for the application of straps in the ordinary use of the skis. As part of the means for coupling the skis into sled formation, I provide posts l3 that may be of any suitable materialbut are preferably of light metal such as aluminum, flanged and made as light as -practical. These posts rest directly on the block 1939, Serial No. 297,825

or raised portions; of-the, skis and at their lower ends said posts are provided with clamping straps l4 and I5, thelower ends of which are hooked and adapted to be inserted into the slots or passages l2 of the skis. These connecte 5 ing straps may be clampedto theposts in dif-. ferent ways but, as shown, they are thus clamped by means of nut-equipped bolts l6 and-.by a clamping yoke .l'!, which latter embraces, the

posts and the straps and isprovidedwith a piv- 10.x

oted clamping lever' l8. By the means just described, theposts are veryfirmly but detachably secured to the skis.

To the lip-turned. from; ends or the skis, meal- .1;

ho toe-clamping plates'l9 and 20 are detachably 15 but securely clamped by means of nut-equipped bolts 2|, or the like.

On the upper front portions oithe posts 13 are coupling lugs 22,, and on the upper clamping plates 20, are coupling lugs 23. These lugs .22. 6

and 23 are connectedby trussrods or bars made up. of telescopic sections 24 and 25. Theseltruss rods or bars are, of course, appliedto. connect eachpost to the front end of theco-operating ski. .7 To lock the telescopic. sections 24 and 25 2b in the variousv adjustments, they are shown as providedwith perforations. 26 through which 'cou: pling pins are adapted to be. inserted. These coupling pins may take various forms but as here used and in variousother places, hereinafter noted, they are the type shown in detail in Fig. 7 wherein the numeral 2'l indicates thepin proper provided atoneend with a head and at its other endwith a pivot-like tongue 28. When one of these pins is inserted through the perforations 35 of the, telescopically connected sections 24 and 25, and the tongue 28 is turned transversely, accidental removal of the 'pins will be prevented. The headed ends of the pins 21 are shown as detachably connected to the, outer of the telescopic 6 sections by a flexible chain or cord 29.' Also, the pins, .areshown as surrounded by short coiled springs 30 that will be under compression when the pins are inserted and their lock blades turned.

At or near their'fronten'ds, the sections 25 are 5 The posts l3 are tied together at the rear of the sled by an extensible cross-connected rod or bar made up of telescopic sections 35 and 36 pro vided with perforations 31 through which pins, such as pins 2'! or the like, may be inserted to lock the said rear cross tie bar in the desired arrangement for proper spacing of the skis. At their outer ends the tie rod sections 35 and 36 are directly pivoted to hinge lugs 38 rigidly secured on the posts l3.

The upper ends of the posts l3 are cross-connected by a tie bar structure that includes a steering mechanism and which directly connect the upper ends of post extension rods 39 that are telescoped into the posts I3. These post extensions 39 and the posts l3 have coincident perforations 40 through which lock pins, or the like, such as those shown in Fig. 7, may be inserted to lock the post extensions in different vertical adjustments in respect to their corresponding posts.

At their upper ends the post extensions 39 are rigidly secured to transverse rod or bar-like members that afford handle bars 4| adapted to be gripped by the hands of the person standing on the skis at the rear of the posts, preferably directly on the raised portions l l of the skis.

The handlebars 4| are preferably tubular and at their inner ends are elbow-like brackets or heads 42 that have trunnion-like stems 43 telescoped into the inner ends of said handle bars and adapted to be locked thereto in difierent adjustments by lock pins, such as shown in Fig. 7, inserted through coincident perforations 44 in said members 4| and 43, see particularly Fig. 3. The upwardly extended ends of the brackets 42 are connected by a coiled spring 45, the interme diate portion of which is attached to the upper end of a centering bar 46. This centering bar 46 is rigidly secured to a coupling sleeve 41 that is telescoped over the trunnion-like ends 48 of coupling heads 49 that are pivotally connected at 50 to the elbow portions of the brackets 42. The lower end of the centering bar 46 is pivoted to the lower ends of a pair of upwardly diverging links 5|, the upper ends of which links are pivoted at 52 to the upwardly extended ends or arms of the coupling brackets 42. The links 5|, as shown, are made up of laterally spaced straps that embrace the coupling sleeve 41.

As an additional feature, I provide a heavy carryingsack 53 made of heavy canvas, leather or other suitable flexible material. This sack is reinforced by transverse straps-54 that extend from corner to corner of the sack and are united to short chains or cables 55 provided with hooked ends adapting them to be detachably applied to coupling rings 55 on the rod sections 25 and to coupling rings 51 on the posts l3. As shown, the rings 55 are applied to sleeves 58 swivelled on the rod sections '25, and the coupling rings 51 are applied to lugs 59 on the posts I3. When the sack 53 is applied, as shown in Fig. 1, it will be so supported above and between the skis that one or more additional persons may ride on the sack. Also, the sack is of such size and formation that detachable portions of the skis, when disconnected and compactly placed together, may be contained within the sack for the purpose of storage or shipment.

The numeral 60 indicates rings applied to sleeves 6| secured on the front ends of the rod sections 25 and to which links a rope or the like may be applied for the purpose of pulling the sled when desired.

The posts l3, somewhat below their upper ends, and on their inner sides, are provided with U--shaped clamps 52; and the rod sections 24 near their lower portions are provided with depending U-shaped spring clamps 63, for purposes which will hereinafter appear.

Operation Figs. 1 and 2 show the ski sled set up for use as a two runner sled. The operator standing on the skis, preferably on the raised blocks II, will grip the handle bars 4|. By the spring 45 the posts I3 will be normally held in vertical positions so that the sled will then tend to run straight ahead. If the handle bars are pressed toward the left in respect to Fig. l, or in other Words, towards the right of the operator riding on the skis at the rear of the posts, the said posts and the skis will be tilted laterally in a direction to cause the skis to tilt and travel forward but with a drift or trend toward the said direction in which the posts are tilted; but if the handle bars and the posts are tilted in the opposite direction, the tendency of the sled to travel in the opposite direction from that stated will be produced. Obviously by the shifting movements of the handle bars and the posts, the steering of the sled can be controlled. The swivelled couplings 3i and the pivots 38, of course, permit the above noted lateral tilting of the posts, the skis and the brace rods or bars 24-25, while the spacing of the skis is maintained by the cross-connecting rods or bars 3233, 35-36. The spring 45 readily yields when the handle bars are tilted in the one direction or the other, and under such tilting movements the stems orpIungers 48 of coupling heads 49 freely move in the coupling sleeve 47.

When lateral pressure is relieved from the handle bars, the spring 45, of course, restores the posts to vertical positions and adjusts the sled for straight ahead travel.

VVhenthe sack 53 is applied, as illustrated in Fig. 1, it affords a flexible deck or carrier on which one or more persons may ride; and when the posts are disconnected from the skis and the brace rods. the handle bars and cross-connecting rods are disconnected or uncoupled, and may be slipped into the sack.

If it is desired to use but one ski as a one runne sled, with the posts, handle bars and truss rod or bar connected, the cross-connecting elements 32 and 33 will be separated and turned up against the truss bars to which they are attached and forced into the spring clamps 63 where they will be held; and the cross-connecting elements 35 and 35 will be disconnected and turned upward against the respective posts to which they are attached and engaged and held by the U-shaped clamps 62. Also, to effect this adjustment, the handle bars 4| will be disconnected from and pulled off from the trunnion-like stems 43 leaving only the handle bars attached to the posts. In this way two single runner sleds will be made available. Whether connected as a two runner sled or single runner sleds, the handle bars may be vertically adjusted to suit the operator.

When the sled is adjusted as shown in the drawings, the post extensions 39 will be secured to the posts [3 against rotary movements on a vertical axis and this is an important element in that it keeps the skis from running one ahead of the other. In almost all other respects the connections between the two skis are flexible. The two skis are capable of independent vertical movements so that 'the' one ski n-matter an ob-' struction without moving the other skiupward; and this is true whether the'po'sts are vertical or tilted in the one direction or the otherl 'To obtain the above rigidity in certainrespe'cts and fiexi-i bility in other respects no'tedlit is important that the handle bars or elements 4| be rigidly secured to the post extensions and to the posts. When the posts are tilted in the one direction or the other, there will be an angular movement of the handle bars the one in respect to the other. For example, if the two posts are tilted toward the left in respect to Figs. 1 and 3, the inner end of the left-hand handle bar 4| will be raised, while the inner end of the right-hand handle bar will be lowered, and this will cause the coupling sleeve 41 to assume an oblique position in respect to a horizontal. This movement will take place against the tension of the spring 45 which, acting through the links 5|, will cause the right-hand plunger 48 to move outward in the sleeve 41 to prevent cramping of the spring-actuated connections between the two handle bars. Of course, the spring 45 normally holds the posts in vertical positions and will tend to restore the parts to such positions when lateral force is not applied to the handle bars.

A preferred form of the sled has been described, but it will be understood that the same is capable of modifications as to details of construction and arrangement of parts within the scope of the invention herein disclosed and claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a sled of the kind described, a pair of skis, posts secured to and rising from the intermediate portions of the skis, truss rods connecting the upper portions of said posts to the toe portions of said skis, a cross tie rod connecting the front ends of said truss bars, a cross tie bar connecting the lower portions of said posts, post extensions rigidly secured and projecting upward from said posts, handle bars on the upper ends of said post extensions, and a yielding spring connectionbetween the inner ends of said handle bars.

2. In a sled of the kind described, a pair of skis, posts secured to and rising from the intermediate portions of the skis, truss rods connecting the upper portions of said posts to the toe portions of said skis, a cross tie rod connecting the front ends of said truss bars, a cross tie bar connecting the lower portions of said posts, post extensions rigidly secured and projecting upward from said posts, handle bars on the upper ends of said post extensions, a yielding spring connection between the inner ends of said handle bars, said skis at their intermediate portions having strap slots, and said posts at their lower ends having detachably secured metallic clamping straps, the lower ends of which are engageable in the strap slots of said skis.

3. In a sled of the kind described, a pair of skis, posts secured to and rising from the intermediate portions of the skis, truss rods connecting the upper portions of said posts to the toe portions of said skis, a cross tie rod connecting the front ends of said truss bars, a cross tie bar connecting the lower portions of said posts, post extensions rigidly secured and projecting upward from said posts, handle bars on the upper ends of said post extensions, a yielding spring connection between the inner ends of said handle bars, said post extensions being vertically adjustable in said posts-and said truss rods and cross tie rods being longitudinallyadjustable."

4; In a sled of the'kind described, a pair of skis, 'po'sts'secured to and risingfrom the inter-' mediate portions of the skis, truss rodsconnecting the upper portions of said posts to the toe portions of said skis, 'a cross tie rod connecting the front ends of said truss bars, and a cross tie bar connecting the lower portions of said posts, handle bars connected to the upper ends of said posts, and a spring-actuated yielding connection between the inner ends of said handle bars tending to hold the posts in vertical positions.

5. In a sled of the kind described, a pair of skis, posts secured to and rising from the intermediate portions of the skis, truss rods connecting the upper portions of said posts to the toe portions of said skis, a cross tie rod connecting the front ends of said truss bars, a cross tie bar connecting the lower portions of said posts, handle bars secured to the upper ends of said posts, head brackets secured to the inner ends of said handle bars, plungers pivotally connected to said brackets, a coupling sleeve in which said plungers work sli-dably, and a spring connecting said head brackets to said coupling sleeve.

6. In a sled of the kind described, a pair of skis, posts secured to and rising from the intermediate portions of the skis, truss rods connecting the upper portions of said posts to the toe portions of said skis, a cross tie rod connecting the front ends of said truss bars, a cross tie 'b-ar connecting the lower portions of said posts, handle bars secured to the upper ends, of said posts, head brackets secured to the inner ends of said handle bars, plungers pivotally connected to said brackets, a coupling sleeve in which said plungers work slidably, a coupling bar secured to said coupling sleeve, links connected to the lower end of said coupling bar at their lower ends, and at their upper ends to said coupling heads, and a spring intermediately connected to the upper end of said coupling bar and at its ends attached to said coupling heads, said spring tending to hold said posts in vertical positions.

7. The structure defined in claim 6 in which said coupling heads are rigidly secured to the inner ends of said handle bars with freedom for longitudinal adjustments.

8. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said front and rear cross tie bars are longitudinally extensible and are pivotally connected thetformer to said truss rod, and the latter to said pos s.

9. In a. sled of the kind described, a pair of skis, posts secured to and rising from the intermediate portions of the skis, truss rods connecting the upper portions of said posts to the toe portions of said skis, a cross tie rod connecting the front ends of said truss bars, and a cross tie bar connecting the lower portions of said posts, and in which structure said cross tie rods and truss bars are longitudinally extensible.

10. In a sled of the kind described, a pair of skis, posts secured to and rising from the intermediate portions of the skis, truss rods connecting the upper portions of said posts to the toe por- 11. In a sled of the kind described, a pair of and inwhich said cross tie rods are made up of skis, posts secured to and rising from the interdetachablyconnected sections, said truss rods mediate portions of the skis, truss rods connecthaving spring clips adapted to hold-the sections ing the upper portions of said posts to the toe, of said front cross tie rod, and said posts-areproportions of said skis, a cross tie rod connecting vided with spring clips adapted to hold the sec- 6 the front ends of said truss bars, and a cross tie tions of said rearcross tie rod.

bar connecting the lower portions of said posts, NELS SAARI. 

